Trulia's Q1 2011 Rent vs. Buy Index provides guidance to help you make a smart decision on whether it is better to rent or buy in each of America's 50 largest cities by population. The Rent:Buy Ratio is calculated by using the median list price compared with the median rent on two-bedroom apartments, condos and townhomes listed on Trulia.com. Click here for the full methodology.

Click on the tabs above the interactive bar graph to see how unemployment rates, foreclosure filing activities and job growth projections affect renting and buying across the U.S. The height of each bar corresponds to population. Cities are ordered by their Rent:Buy Ratio.